Yeah cause players want Sprinkle sprinkles all over their uniforms when they get tackled. Not to mention a mouth full of Sprinkle sprinkles.

]]>By: cshearinghttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3525147
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 12:29:54 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3525147@jpherling: Probably less than you think. People did not use their head as a weapon when it only had a leather covering. Also the shoulder pads and such were not made of plastic hard enough to stop a bullet. Plus, guys were not 290 running a 4.8 40. Lots of factors make concussions more prevalent today.
]]>By: jpherlinghttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3525106
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 12:06:36 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3525106Concussions must have been common when they were wearing leather helmets (up to the early 1950’s).
]]>By: jpherlinghttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3525104
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 12:03:32 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3525104Eddie LeBaron
]]>By: rutchaserhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3525088
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:42:53 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3525088I also love these old timer stories. Makes me wish I could go back and live in that time for a while. Reading this stuff makes me even more disgusted about today’s contract hold outs, guys like T.O and all the new rules in the game today.
]]>By: wtfchiefshttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3525074
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:19:59 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3525074Before football became the game of two hand touch between a bunch of track stars on HGH as we know it today
]]>By: granadafanhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3525032
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 09:58:20 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3525032The game has changed mainly because of one person, Roger Goodell, who let his merry band of lawyers run the league.
]]>By: numberoneinthehoodghttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3524995
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 05:52:33 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3524995Off topic:
So the NFL knew or should have known about concussions back in the 40’s and 50’s. Their argument is the lasting affect? Just want to make sure I get this correct.

I digress, he’s before my time, but I hope he enjoyed his time both on and off the field.

]]>By: tecmobowl34http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3524950
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 04:12:42 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3524950dobreshunka says:
Aug 5, 2014 9:46 PM
I love the old game and players like Sprinkle, but if he played today 90% of the people posting here would be screaming he should be banned for life, especially if he stomped Manning or Rodgers. Can’t have it both ways folks.

————————————–

Yeah. The game has changed. It is also way better to watch now, and does more to protect the players than it ever did before. No one really wants it both ways, “folks”.

]]>By: ialwayswantedtobeabankerhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3524932
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 03:54:41 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3524932About the guys disappointed by some Steeler fans, I don’t blame them. The unjustified arrogance of some of my Steeler brothers and sisters makes us all look like delusional idiots.

About the Bears, yes – they have had an exceptional number of tough players spanning a lonnnng time. In more recent years, one could also name (in addition to Butkus, Singletary and Urlacher) Dent, Kreutz, Marshal, McMichael, Payton, Fencik, Wilson, Hampton, Plank and Briggs. By all accounts and the tape (they called it film in those days), Ditka was an absolute beast too.

All those players came ready to tee it up in between the lines. Any real football fan should respect and appreciate good, clean, tough, hard-nosed FOOTBALL.

]]>By: fromundamahjunkhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3524912
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 03:30:04 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3524912Bears fan here: Thank you bobnelsonjr, you are a great testament to yet another rich, and proud franchise. Not to mention the greatest rivals a football fan could ever ask for. Well said, and here’s to 3 or 4 more decades of our teams playing the meanest, closest, and hardest fought games 2 or 3 times a year.
]]>By: cfballfan1http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3524892
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 03:08:42 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3524892RIP to a true professional football great.

In my lifetime they have had Dick Butkis, Mike Singletary, and Brian Urlacher. Hard hitting but not dirty.

Growing up a Packer fan I can remember Abe Gibron sending 2 players to block the Packers kicker on every kick off.

There is still a toughness in the Bears that can be traced back to George Halas and players like Ed Sprinkle who deserved respect.

My Dad is saddened by Ed’s death. He is one who still remembers Ed, but he was before my time.

]]>By: 34defense2014http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3524840
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 02:25:36 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3524840uglydingo: food and conditioning lol what about HGH and Steroids? Imagine if the NFL actually tested for HGH in today’s game?
]]>By: thereyougo2http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3524822
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 02:14:11 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3524822Eddie LaBaron was the starting QB for he first year Dallas Cowboys.
]]>By: dobreshunkahttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3524771
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 01:46:23 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3524771I love the old game and players like Sprinkle, but if he played today 90% of the people posting here would be screaming he should be banned for life, especially if he stomped Manning or Rodgers. Can’t have it both ways folks.
]]>By: barrywhererufromhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3524763
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 01:41:16 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3524763RIP Mr. Sprinkle.. God Bless.
]]>By: realitycheckbabyhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3524758
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 01:40:05 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3524758Who would have guessed Chicago had good defensive players in their distant past.
]]>By: stew48http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3524727
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 01:19:03 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3524727LeBaron (sp)
]]>By: stew48http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3524726
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 01:18:18 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3524726Washington, I think, had a quarterback by name of Eddie LeBron. He was 5’5or6″ tall. (or short) It was a running joke that he was so short that the defensive players couldn’t see him until it was too late. In addition, he had a knack of faking handoffs, etc. that drove them crazy. The players then were significantly smaller, all across the team.
]]>By: calvinthegreat82http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3524724
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 01:16:56 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3524724Steeler Nation is so far above you and your lowly franchise. We built this league. Pittsburgh’s three rivers are made from the tears of our opponents. Bow to your supreme overlords. says:
Aug 5, 2014 8:19 PM

R.I.P. Still a below average player.

_______________________________

Chicago Bears , Green Bay Packers, New York Giants

All more historic and meaning full than the Steelers to the NFL History & culture we have today and all have more NFL championships than the Steelers.

Steelers fans are a lot like Vikings fans, except for the 6 NFL Championships the Steelers have.

]]>By: 11intheboxhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3524720
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 01:15:13 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3524720From a 1949 Chicago Tribune article: “After the game, [Chicago Cardinals] Coach Buddy Parker charged that Ed Sprinkle, Bears’ end, deliberately stomped on Elmer Angsman, star right halfback. Reached at his home last night, Angsman corroborated his coach’s stand and said he has five cleat marks on his chest.”
——————————————
Wow. And Ndamakung Suh is vilified for the same thing.

Proof that the game hasn’t changed, but the so-called “fans” have.

]]>By: chinahand11http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3524677
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 00:45:26 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3524677RIP Mr. Sprinkle. The article was fantastic, I love reading about these old guys. He must have been a natural hitter, considering his size and position and rep.
]]>By: TheWizardhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3524669
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 00:38:58 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3524669People seem surprised at the size of the players back then.

I’m more surprised at the 330 lb. freaks of today.

I’d like a rational explanation of how that happened.

]]>By: thetooloftoolshttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3524659
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 00:28:05 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3524659i love it. old school hammering. It didn’t say “dirty”, it said MEANEST.
]]>By: thefiesty1http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3524655
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 00:22:42 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3524655The way football should be played now. These premadonnas (today) are afraid to touch someone.
]]>By: Steeler Nation is so far above you and your lowly franchise. We built this league. Pittsburgh's three rivers are made from the tears of our opponents. Bow to your supreme overlords.http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3524651
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 00:19:30 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3524651R.I.P. Still a below average player.
]]>By: ialwayswantedtobeabankerhttp://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/05/ed-sprinkle-meanest-man-in-football-dies-at-90/#comment-3524645
Wed, 06 Aug 2014 00:17:09 +0000http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=2272367#comment-3524645This is, but another example, where NFL Films kept these legends alive. Sprinkle was wayyy before my time, and probably most of you out there — but NFL Films put together pieces on guys like Ed Sprinkle, Hardy Brown, Night Train, Bucko Kilroy, etc.

There is a great NFL Films clip of YouTube of the Chuck Bednarik/Chuck Noll feud.

The fact I have any awareness about Sprinkle is a testament to NFL Films enriching the NFL experience SUBSTANTIALLY. And it’s also why I really really would like to see Steve Sabol enshrined, albeit posthumously — since he passed away before the people who determine such matters haven’t figured out Steve’s worth even now … after Steve passed.

And yeah, the Sprinkle stories are spicy — back during a time when, as Halas said simply but profoundly, “That’s football.”